Wednesday

Gor Mahia        Vs    Green Eagles            16:00

APR                     Vs    AS Maniema             18:30

It will be a Rwanda Vs DR Congo affair when APR and AS Maniema face off Wednesday evening in the 2019 Cecafa Kagame Cup quarter-finals.

The game starts 6:30pm, at Kigali Stadium.

Congolese side AS Maniema set up the APR clash for a spot in semi-finals after finishing second in Group D, thanks to the 2-1 victory over Djibouti’s AS Ports in their final group game at Umuganda Stadium, on Sunday.

Three-time Cecafa winners APR progressed to the last eight in style after topping Group C with a maximum nine points.  The army side matched into the knockout stage having scored six times without conceding a single goal.

"We have shown that we are capable to win against anyone, Wednesday is a good challenge to prove it once more – when it matters the most,” APR interim coach, Jimmy Mulisa, told Times Sport on Tuesday.

However, the former APR and Amavubi forward is cautious of the fact that ‘anything can happen in knockouts’ and urged his players to bring into the game the best of their mental strength and hunger for club’s first Cecafa Kagame Cup since 2010.

"AS Maniema may be debutants in Cecafa, but they are not a small team, and they showed it in the group stage. We need to be vigilant defensively and efficient in the attack,” added Mulisa.

In a separate interview, AS Maniema tactician Guy Lusadisu, also admitted that the game against APR is going to be tough, and challenged his players to focus on their game; not the opponent’s.

He said: "Being new in the tournament helps us not to fear anyone. We will just focus on our game, and make sure we are not intimated by our opponents’ status or their home advantage.”

"We are aware we are facing one of the best teams in the tournament, so the match is definitely going to be a tough one: probably on both sides.”

Courtesy of President Paul Kagame’s support to the annual regional tournament, winners will pocket $30,000 (Rwf.27 million) in prize money, beaten finalists bag $20,000 (Rwf.18 million) while the second runners-up will walk away with $10,000 (Rwf.9 million), respectively.

The encounter between APR and AS Maniema will be preceded by another highly anticipated quarter-final pitting Kenyan giant Gor Mahia and Zambian outfit Green Eagles, starting at 4pm.

Gor Mahia reached the last eight as Group D leaders, while Green Eagles finished second in Group C.

editor@newtimesrwanda.com